Jones names his side to face the French today and may have to scrap his plans to shift Maro Itoje to the back row to cover for Robshaw.

The former skipper, who was outstanding at blindisde in the autumn, had a shoulder op last month.

Yet Jones’ back-row options look much healthier with James Haskell, Tom Wood, Teimana Harrison and Nathan Hughes in the running. Haskell could win his 71st cap after less than 60 minutes of action for his club in eight months.